Few would argue that 2020 has been a year like no other, with the coronavirus pandemic changing life and Hollywood production as we know it. It has also seen the entertainment world lose a lot of beloved stars and behind-the-scenes people who bring us our favorite shows, day in and day out.
Entertainment World Losses
Some were expected and some were shocking but either way, each loss to the community has been hard for everyone. As 2020 comes to a close, Entertainment Hub remembers the many beloved members of the entertainment community who passed away during the year. You can click on each person’s name to read about them.
January 7: Silvio Horta: Many of the show’s stars shared their memories of the Ugly Betty creator after his passing at the age of 45.
January 22: John Karlen: Many fans knew his work as far back as Dark Shadows while others will always love his work as Mary Beth Lacey’s husband on Cagney & Lacey. Karlen died at the age of 86.
January 22: Tyler Gwozdz: This reality star made a name for himself trying to woo The Bachelorette during Hannah Brown’s season. He passed away at 29.
January 26: Kobe Bryant: The world still hasn’t recovered from the shocking helicopter crash death at age 41 of basketball great Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, who was only 13.
February 3: Gene Reynolds: The prolific producer of such hits as M*A*S*H and Lou Grant passed away at age 96.
February 5: Kirk Douglas: He was a Hollywood legend who was also the father of another Hollywood legend and the world lost this great at the age of 103.
February 8: Robert Conrad: Known for so many TV and film roles, the famous star died at the age of 84.
February 16: Kellye Nakahara: She played a nurse on M*A*S*H and was also an accomplished artist. She passed away at the age of 72.
February 17: Ja’net DuBois: The star was beloved as Good Times’ Willona and passed away sadly at the age of 74.
March 2: James Lipton: He knew all the right questions to ask his famous guests but he was an actor as well as a writer on soaps. He died at age 93.
March 8: Max Von Sydow: He had an amazing and long career, including roles on Game of Thrones, Flash Gordon, and in the Star Wars universe that cemented his place in pop culture — he passed away at 90.
March 17: Lyle Waggoner: The 84-year-old actor was famous not only for his roles on Wonder Woman and The Carol Burnett Show but also for founding Star Waggons — those trailers that are used on numerous studio lots and locations as dressing rooms.
March 20: Kenny Rogers: He was not only one of the most beloved country singers, especially working with Dolly Parton, but he also acted. He passed away at 81;
March 24: Terrence McNally: He was known as the ‘bard of the American Theater’ and this Tony-award winner died at the age of 81.
March 26: Fred “Curly” Neal: He had style and flair and kids of all ages loved to watch him on the basketball court with The Globetrotters. He died at age 77.
April 5: Honor Blackman: She was the first of several losses in the Bond universe, having played Pussy Galore in Goldfinger. She passed away at 94.
March 31: Andrew Jack: The Star Wars universe didn’t fare much better, as Jack appeared in a few roles in a few of those films before he passed at age 76.
April 2: Grant Gustin: The world was just seeing this young actor’s talents, having appeared in The Flash. He passed away at the age of 16.
April 15: Brian Dennehy: This Golden Globe winner left an indelible impression on so many before he passed away at the age of 81.
April 22: Shirley Knight: She made her mark on stage, screen, and on our television screens before she left this world at the age of 83.
April 29: Irrfan Khan: Known for his work on HBO’s In Treatment as well as the film Life of Pi, he passed away at 53.
May 11: Jerry Stiller: While many knew him as Ben Stiller’s father or Anne Meara’s husband, Stiller had a long and prolific career — in addition to introducing Seinfeld audiences to the holiday of Festivus. He died at age 92.
May 9: Little Richard: He delighted the world with his singing and songwriting, influencing culture and up-and-coming musicians during his seven decades in music. He passed away at 87.
May 15: Fred Willard: He made fans laugh with his expert comedic timing on many shows. The funnyman passed away at the age of 86.
May 18: Ken Osmond: How can anyone think of Leave It To Beaver and not think of his portrayal of Eddie Haskell? He passed away at 76.
June 2: Mary Pat Gleason: While her face was familiar to so many, not everyone knew she also won a Daytime Emmy for writing a soap opera. She passed away at age 70.
June 29: Carl Reiner: This hero of comedy, both in front and behind the camera, also was father to another legend — his son Rob Reiner. He passed away at age 98.
July 1: Hugh Downs: The legendary co-anchor of 20/20 with Barbara Walters passed away at the age of 99.
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July 6: Charlie Daniels: He was a country singer beloved for many classics but especially The Devil Went Down To Georgia, and he died at the age of 83.
July 8: Naya Rivera: It was a heartbreaking loss as she drowned after saving her young son from the same fate. It took a few days for divers to find her body. She passed away at the age of 33.
July 12: Kelly Preston: An accomplished actress and wife of fellow actor John Travolta, she passed away at the age of 57.
July 24: Regis Philbin: Beloved talk show host and occasional actor, Regis Philbin entertained so many over his many decades in show business. He passed away at 88.
August 1: Wilford Brimley: Known for his roles in the Cocoon films as well as the TV series Our House, Brimley was also a celebrity spokesperson for several products. He passed away at 85.
August 18: Ben Cross: His role in 1981’s Chariots of Fire put him on the entertainment world’s map but he was beloved for his roles on Dark Shadows and in the Star Trek universe. He died at 72.
August 28: Chadwick Boseman: He was beloved around the world for his many film roles, especially as the lead character in Black Panther, but he will always be remembered by daytime fans for creating the role of Reggie Montgomery on All My Children. He was only 42.
September 6: Kevin Dobson: He may not have had the same fans follow him from Kojak to the Knots Landing cul-de-sac, but he was beloved by all, especially fellow veterans he helped tremendously. He passed away at age 77.
September 10: Dame Diana Rigg: One of the most beloved “Bond Girls” out there, she found a new audience with her Game of Thrones role. She died at the age of 82.
September 12: Ernie Orsatti: Known for his iconic fall in The Poseidon Adventure, he passed away at the age of 80.
September 23: Gale Sayers: His life and friendship with fellow football player Brian Piccolo inspired the film Brian’s Song — and a generation of young players. He died at age 77.
September 29: Helen Reddy: She won a Grammy award for a song that became a feminist anthem everywhere — I Am Woman. She died at age 78.
September 29: Mac Davis : He had an incredible career as a country music artist and was Grammy-nominated for his songwriting skills. He died at 78.
October 5: Margaret Nolan: Another from the James Bond world, she not only appeared in the film (in a different role) but was the model covered in gold for the Goldfinger poster. She passed away at the age of 76.
October 6: Eddie Van Halen: The legendary musician and songwriter influenced so many artists with his incredible guitar skills. He died at the age of 65.
October 6: Tom Kennedy: He was a game show host, most notably on Name That Tune and passed away at the age of 93.
October 12: Conchata Farrell: She was beloved for so many roles but was probably best known for Two and a Half Men before she passed away at 77.
October 16: James Redford: He was a filmmaker in his own right, which couldn’t have been easy living in the shadow of his legendary father, Robert Redford. He passed away at 58.
October 21: Marge Champion: She was an incredible dancer and choreographer — and even the model for Snow White. She passed away at 101.
October 28: Leanza Cornett: It was a shock to many when the former Miss America passed away at the age of 49.
October 31: Sean Connery: The first James Bond and an Oscar winner as an Irish cop in The Untouchables. He passed away at the age of 90.
November 2: Robert Lee “Otter” Anderson: He was the inspiration for Tim Matheson’s character, Otter, in the film Animal House. He died at 80.
November 8: Alex Trebek: The world was rooting for the host of Jeopardy! to beat cancer but while he survived longer than many expected, he succumbed at the age of 80.
November 23: Abby Dalton: She was best known to TV viewers as Julia Channing Cumson on Falcon Crest. She died at the age of 88.
November 28: David Prowse: He played one of the most famous screen villains ever — as Darth Vader in Star Wars, he cast quite the looming figure. He died at 85.
December 4: David L. Lander: In the 70s, he was Squiggy on Laverne & Shirley and soon revealed he suffered from Multiple Sclerosis. He passed away at the age of 73.
December 17: Jeremy Bulloch: Another actor who was famous as a Star Wars villain, he portrayed Boba Fett and died at the age of 75.
December 23: Rebecca Luker: Beloved for her incredible singing voice, this incredible Broadway and frequent primetime guest star passed away at 59.
December 30: Dawn Wells: She was beloved for playing Mary Ann on Gilligan’s Island, and passed away at the age 0f 82.
Entertainment Hub sends condolences to all who loved these amazing people who were lost this past year from the entertainment world.
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